Nowadays people are more conscious of germs and their own personal hygiene. This is why Bob Mackey and Michael Green invented the Yono Clip, a suction hanger to keep belongings from touching dirty surfaces. They secured a deal on Shark Tank with FUBU Founder Daymond John. As of 2023, Yono Clip is worth an estimated $400,000.
The Founders’ Backgrounds
Michael Green and Bob Mackey are from Atlanta, Georgia. Michael has a bachelor’s degree in English and linguistics from Morehouse College. Since 2001, he has been an educator and president of Science for Everyone, Inc.
Mackey was a high school dropout but later decided to finish his education by taking on a TED program in college. He then worked as an inventor and the CEO of a non-profit organization called Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Georgia.
The two first met at a STEM festival around 2010. They were both motivational speakers looking to inspire the youth. After being introduced to each other, they became close friends.
Founding Yono Clip
Bob is a fitness enthusiast who once tripped on somebody’s bag on the gym floor. Rather than getting upset about it, he got a lightbulb moment for a hanging device. He initially sketched it on a paper towel and thought it was brilliant. So, he posted the idea on Facebook.
It got a lot of comments, but the most insightful one came from Michael Green. With this, the two Atlanta men worked to develop the Yono Clip, which is a suction-based hanger that’s attachable to almost any kind of vertical, horizontal, or diagonal surface.
They made the first units with a 3D printer, and they were released in 2020. The startup then raised $10,000 in a day from Kickstarter and made $14,500 in sales two months after launching.
Pitch on Shark Tank
Michael and Bob wanted to move from 3D printing to molded manufacturing. They needed to raise capital and appeared on season 12 of Shark Tank, asking for $150,000 for 15% equity.
The entrepreneurs made a very energetic presentation that got the Sharks dancing. When they started talking business, the Sharks were impressed with how much they accomplished in two months.
However, several of them failed to see the practicality of the item and backed out. Daymond John was inspired by their story and offered $150,000 for 30%. The founders tried to counter, but they eventually agreed to the deal.
Update After Shark Tank
Sadly, there hasn’t been much news about Yono Clip after being featured on Shark Tank. Like with a lot of businesses, Yono Clip’s production and shipping were impacted by the pandemic. This is frustrating considering the product becomes significantly more appealing during this time.
Some orders are delayed for 30 days or longer and this may be the reason why it has a 1.33-star rating on SharkTankShopper.com. YonoClip.net is currently the only place you can buy the product. It’s unlikely they will launch on Amazon until they fix their main issues.
They have 1,5000 followers on Instagram and around 2,600 likes on their Facebook page. These numbers are low considering how amazing their pitch was. Instagram profile has around 1,500 followers which should be higher considering how great their pitch was.
Yono Clip’s annual revenue is undisclosed but is worth an estimated $400,000. Hopefully, Yono Clip can turn the business around as the founders were very likable people.
